Q. I came across your website this weekend, and it has been really enjoyable reading it. I am trying to switch all our light to compact fluorescents, but I have run into one problem. In our kitchen, halls, and bathroom, we have light fixtures (holes) that are recessed, and the compact fluorescent bulbs needed for [...]
Q. What did you do to help drastically reduce your electricity usage?
A. We purchased a energy efficient Kenmore model from Sears back in 2003. The City of Pasadena offered(s) money back incentives to buy Energy Star appliances, and we got a considerable rebate! A friend of ours posted on her blog of the drastic drop [...]
Q. I am working to establish my own homestead here in Altadena. My biggest motivation is a love for gardening and nature but more importantly to feed my daughter well. In the process of setting up growing space I am trying to maximize it. I have a west facing wall that receives sunlight from early [...]
Q. First let me say that I enjoy your site and visit often to see what you are all up to next.
I have wanted the washing machine that you purchased from Lehman’s. I have saved pennies for some time now, designated for the purchase of the washer.
I read that you were a bit disappointed with [...]
Q. I do not have a diesel engine in my vehicles, but I was wondering if BioDiesel could be substituted for #2 Fuel oil used in home heating furnaces? I have a garage that I want to heat. If this works well, I want to use it to heat my house. Can you help me [...]
Q.I have a question regarding bio-diesel. Can it be used to fuel my home furnace? There were a few times when I ran out of heating oil and had to use diesel fuel. I do not own a diesel vehicle but I do have an oil furnace that if I can use the bio-deisel I [...]
Q. Besides replacing your appliances and the solar power, what other ways do you cut electricity?
A. Besides changing over the majority of our appliances and such (computer, tv, fridge, washer) over to Energy Efficient models, we do without all “unnecessary gadgets” such as hair dryers, electric shavers, blender (use a hand crank one), microwave, can [...]
Q. How long have you been using your sun oven?
A. We’ve been using solar ovens since the late 1990s. Over the years, we’ve made our share of cardboard solar box cookers (including one from a recycled pizza box). However, over time the cardboard would get dented or just look ratty. [...]
Q. I have a small question: how did you go about unplugging yourself from electricity? How long did it take to find alternatives?
A. As you can see from our ENERGY CHART (PDF) we cut our energy usage in 1/2 to an average 6.5 kwh (from the City of Pasadena site a “normal” Pasadena family uses [...]
As we try to reduce our footprints on the planet, we are taking steps to reduce our impact on the environment and our waste. As I mentioned in a previous entry, we bought a water-saving (22 gal) and energy saving washing machine. The next step was trying to reduce the use of detergents in the [...]
